Chemical Peels

The visible results of chemical peels last different lengths of time depending on which peel depth and ingredients are used. Peels can range from something like a one-night “red carpet glow” to a decades-long turning back of the clock. The risks associated with each peel increase as the time frame of the results increases.

The lightest of superficial peels can be performed weekly to monthly, but deep chemical peels are generally a once-in-a-lifetime commitment. The answer to how often to get your own peels depends on your goals, your skin type, your peel ingredients, and whether you are planning to peel at home or in a dermatologist's office.

Like all medical and cosmetic treatments, chemical peels may be good for skin but can also be harmful, depending on the circumstances. The right depth and type of peel, the right peel ingredients, and an awareness of the qualities of the skin being peeled are all vital to making sure a peel is your friend rather than your enemy. Speak with your dermatologist about what your skin concerns are and she will help choose the proper chemical peel to meet your needs and your risk tolerance.

Peel depths range from superficial (redness and grainy peeling but little downtime) to medium (extended redness, some risk of scarring) to deep (sedation and heavy wound care required, greater risk of scarring and infection). Most dermatologists perform varying strengths of superficial peels in the office. Some perform medium-depth peels. Fewer perform deep peels these days, due to the commitment required on the part of the patient and the physician to achieve safe healing and a happy result. For medium to deeper peels, it's vital to seek out an extremely experienced board-certified dermatologist for safety.

Superficial chemical peels can range from almost no sensation to a strong tingling or burning sensation that is cooled with a fan or ice packs. Medium and deep chemical peels may require topical anesthesia or full general anesthesia in an O.R. due to the discomfort that can be involved.

After a chemical peel, your face can look very different depending on your skin type and which type of peel you had. Very superficial peels, which are still helpful, may be so light that you can't see any visible redness or note any peeling other than some dryness for a few days, but they are still working. More aggressive but still superficial peels can leave you bright red for a couple of days and peely for a couple of weeks. Medium and deep peels cause scabbing for a few weeks and a high risk of scarring if the skin is not treated very carefully under a dermatologist's supervision and direction.

Chemical peels carefully administered by a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon can be helpful for neck and chest skin aging and sun damage, but the skin in those areas is surprisingly much more sensitive to damage than the face. Superficial peels gently supervised, and repeated over time, can accumulate improvement, but ongoing diligent sun protection is key to the success of this treatment. Lasers and light-based treatments chosen carefully may be a better choice in this area.

It is very important to stop Retin-A, retinol, retinaldehyde, or any other version of a topical retinoid before a chemical peel, laser or light-based treatment, or even a facial waxing. Even some cosmetic facials may cause a problem during retinoid use. Retinoids make the skin cells much more sensitive to injury and must not be active in the area during these treatments.